Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-03
MORE OF'WEST FLORIDA.
;CENERY ON The CHATTAHOO-
CHEZ RIVER.

S+eamers-The dangers Oh Ri<or NhNi-
,ation-Relp Needed From Congress-
0xster Shuckers"-SponSe
Trade-Tsxable Vaiues-ShippinS sta
tIst,cs 49, Former GreAtness - Re
owned Hotanist-What ApalachicOisa
Wants, Etc. Etc.
From "Oid Columbia" to the confluence
=, ths Flint and Chattahooche rivers
ne scenery Is picturesque and ever
hanging. The stream cuts its way Oft
ines through abrupt cliffs of varigated
narI surmounted by noble forest trees,
With here and there farm house and the
,sual adjuncts of barn, stables, orchard
nd GARDEN. Some OF these dwellings
ave charming locations, and the eoun-
~ seems thickly inhabited and we'll I'M
proved.
Our boat steamed up the Flint river to
BAINBRIDGE,
md Law there seven hours discharging
oddities. the rosin to be sent by rail to
tavanpah. Flint river, where it de-
,onches into the Apalachicola, is even
,roader and deeper than the Chattanoo-
nee. The two form magnificent
,tream which sweeps rapidly downward
q the Gulf of Mexico.
ts.Junctior" we ''shoot" the railroad
lraWbridge, and with
FEW GASES ONLY
ohrsak the continuity Of swamp, enter
he domain OF the "cypress and alligator,
nd bid a long farewell to the realms OF
| civilization.
Now and then, at slight elevations OF
~ banks, LANDINGS" are made, and
,royisions and other necessaries left for
he scattered population. An occasional
Ieyation OF more positive character
,ometimes also greets the vision. the
uost striking and prominentof which is
ALUM BLUFF,
n Liberty county, rising to the altitude
sccording to the celebrated Botanist, DR..
thapman) of 200 feet.
This is not strictly bluff, but the ter
nipation OF lofty ridge which extends
Jack into the country even as far as
1nincy, 1t fronts the river for about a
talf mile and then breaks off suddenly
nto dismal morass.
vast bed of rich looking mari crops
mt from the cliff, said so closely to re-
emble the Carolina phosphates that a
company will probably be raised to util-
u it for agricultural purposes.
Rising almost like mountain from the
UJdCbub bNhIlPs bhO PRSOSOSAS 40 NAAhN
liaue and beautiful.
WEALTH OF CYPRESS.
The handling of cypress lumber, only
ust fairly begun, is destined to reach i'm
pense propoftions. No timber Is more
lurable, aud when seasoned lighter and
etter adapted to building purposes, in
uding doors, window blinds and sash
rsmes, water tanks, syrup barrels and
hingles. The latter, when sawed or
iyen from heart material, will endure
Until worn as thin as paste board by the
lttriti0n of the elements. The writer has
cen them sound and intact upon a roof
liter the lapse of a half century. And
lere we have an inexhaustible supply OF
bis Invaluable timber, extending in an
lubroken forest for hundreds OF miles,
he trees attaining to gigantic dimen'
ions.
Your scribe was a passenger on this
rip upon the "Miiton Smith" and
Pactous," both good boats, and be.
0nging to the
PEOPLES LINE OF STEAMERS.
The latter. however, is by far the
argest fastest and most elegantly fitted
hp Of all the "bOttoms" that ply upon the
bree rivers. Under the recent pool the
several lines are virtually merged into
me.
The Pactolus has a capacity OF zoe
1ales Of cotton or 1000 bales OF merchan.
Use, with handsome accommodations for
y cabin passengers. Her record for
speed is nine miles an hour up sire ~
and fifteen miles with the current. She
uns between Columbus, Bainbridge and
Apaach cola.
The entire distance by the windings OF
ne several rivers is put down at S64
Hles. These facts we gath red from
'urser W. A. Fry. The other officers are
Master, T. j. Whlteside; First Mate, ID.
T. Mum; Clerk. S. Salisbury; Cnlef En-
gineer, II. K. GOOdlet; Assistant Engi.
leer. W. +. Farley.
The fare on these boats Is first class
RnQ the state rooms scrupulously neat
end comfortable.
ALLIGATOR SHOOTING.
from the decks of the Pactolus rot less
lsa lOO shots we're fired. often within pis-
range, at the exposed bodies of the nu
erous alllgators as they lay at full
eugth on the banks or upon logs, 0ask-
W IN the sun'srays.
we are sorry to chronicle that in the
uSoIl'y OF instances our amateur
oItsmans rife bullets fell wide Of til Q
n ana In some cases-aiter fusilade
SIX shots-tailed even to disturb The
YIanlmlty OF the monster under fire
y"E twice did he draw blood, so far al
OuId be observed
AS many as six alligators were In plain
Wv at one time, and they fairly swarm
: N'iu 'ne marshes Of the river.
DANGEROUS NAVIGATION.
q ~ some places islands divide the
y s r.sfs OF the Apalachicola, leaving only
:, Smow and swift channels between
ag Inc late war the Confederates
n MY oostructions In some OF these
avn nave never been thoroughly re.
% ero eu' and the navigation is thus rem,
nv Ooth intricate and perilous.
. wh AL 10 remembrance one in particu
n tn the passage was so narrow
(rirS WI i. 'uous that the steamer upon en-
N (dar =, " was forced to back up stream in
~ " round the turn In safety. actual
=, rs sor1lhg the banks in doing so, Several
n ST no lave occurred at these places
W s, .ue general government spould moi
kjatioS wi W. a moment to make an appro
I'M NJ sulnclent to render the naviga.
I 70 VI THIS important river perfectly
n . APALACHICoLA
= hasa al the mouth OF the river. iuat
q mo is waters enter the bay of rms
o. or nalne, which stretches out az far n.
fS'e can reach In the direction or rms
m a Hr .UWn has already been described
!. q note tlous letter, and we propose only
bde s,s eue changes and improvements
" b. W w" our last visit just one wear
. Outhern i u the genial host of the